Liberal Arts Services

Course Descriptions

Field of Study

Level

Semester

Keywords

This information is not a substitute for the Registrar's Online Course Schedule. Please refer to the Course Schedule for the latest information on flags, course availability, status, pre-requisites, and other information.

ECO F304K • Introduction To Microeconomics

82235
Meets MTWTHF 1000am-1130am WAG 214

ANALYSIS OF THE ECONOMIC BEHAVIOR OF INDIVIDUAL CONSUMERS, FIRMS, AND WORKERS; SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE ROLE OF MARKETS.

DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE 100 OR MORE STUDENTS.

This course provides an introduction to the theory of how consumers and business firms behave in the market economy. The topics include demand and supply in a competitive market, optimal consumption choice by the individual household given its budget constraint, the producer's costs and output decisions, the demand for labor and other inputs, and economic outcomes under product demand structures ranging from perfect competition to pure monopoly. For specific instructor syllabi and requirements, contact individual instructor.

ECO F420K • Microeconomic Theory

82245
Meets MTWTH 800am-1000am CLA 0.128

A SURVEY OF NEOCLASSICAL AND CONTEMPORARY THEORIES OF THE PRINCIPAL DETERMINANTS OF PRICES AND OF THE ROLE OF PRICES IN ECONOMIC ORGANIZATION. REQUIRED OF STUDENTS MAJORING IN ECONOMICS. STUDENTS MAY NOT ATTEMPT ECONOMICS 420K MORE THAN TWICE.

PREREQUISITE: ECONOMICS 304K AND 304L WITH A GRADE OF AT LEAST C- IN EACH, AND MATHEMATICS 408C AND 408D, OR MATHEMATICS 408K AND 408L, WITH A GRADE OF AT LEAST C- IN EACH.

The primary objective of the course is to study contemporary theories of the principal determinants of prices and the role of prices in economic organization. The course will emphasize the fundamental concepts of microeconomics and provide concrete examples of their application. The course will cover the demand and supply theories for competitive markets, some instances of market power, basics of the game theory, choice under uncertainty, and equilibrium in an exchange and production economy.

ECO F327 • Comparative Economic Systems

82250
• Trinque, Brian M
Meets MTWTHF 830am-1000am BRB 1.118

PREREQUISITE: ECONOMICS 304K AND 304L WITH A GRADE OF AT LEAST C- IN EACH.

CONTAINS A SUBSTANTIAL WRITING COMPONENT AND FULFILLS PART OF THE BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT IN WRITING.

This course is a writing workshop and seminar focusing on economic systems, national and global. The principal objective of the course is to enable your engagement with the scholarly literature on economic systems - that is, to learn how to learn from relevant experts. Secondary course objectives include deepening your understanding of economic systems, exercising your talents in information retrieval and processing, and sharpening your writing skills. Economic transition is an important phenomenon of the 21st century. In a large and expanding number of countries, a transition process is underway or, at least, under discussion. This transition is away from economic systems based on personal authority and inter-personal loyalties toward an economic system based on self-interested and self-reliant competitive struggle under a de-personalized rule of law. Such transitions are altering the global economy and affecting specific societies as diverse as Mexico, Germany, Uganda, Russia, India, and Japan. This course sets aside the contentious debates over the feasibility and desirability of economic transition, attempting instead to understand transition as an historical process. The focus of the course is on two instances of such transition. What caused Great Britain to become the pioneer of transition? What explains the peculiar characteristics of Japan's economic system? In our approach to these specific cases, we examine selected aspects of the evolution of economic systems from ancient times to the present. During the first two-thirds of the semester, lectures will address economic transition as well as practical tips on accessing the literature and composing a coherent term paper. Thereafter, most class meetings will consist of presentations by students of their work-in-progress.

ECO F329 • Economic Statistics

82255
• Ioudina, Vera
Meets MTWTHF 100pm-230pm CLA 1.104

METHODS OF STATISTICAL ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF QUANTITATIVE DATA IN THE FIELD OF ECONOMICS. REQUIRED OF ECONOMICS MAJORS.

PREREQUISITE: ECONOMICS 304K AND 304L WITH A GRADE OF AT LEAST C- IN EACH, AND MATHEMATICS 408C AND 408D, OR MATHEMATICS 408K AND 408L, WITH A GRADE OF AT LEAST C- IN EACH.

Economics 329 is an introduction to Economic Statistics. The aim of the course is to familiarize students with methods of summarizing collections of measurements (data sets) of economic, political and business phenomena. Of particular concern will be an introduction to elementary probability theory and its use in the interpretation of summary statistics (inference) obtained from statistical data sets. A number of economic, political and business applications will be used to illustrate the methods. If more information is needed contact instructor.

ECO S304L • Introduction To Macroeconomics

82330
• MOSTASHARI, SHALAH M
Meets MTWTHF 100pm-230pm CLA 1.104

ANALYSIS OF THE ECONOMY AS A WHOLE (ITS ORGANIZATION AND THE BASIC FORCES INFLUENCING ITS GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT); MONEY AND BANKING, NATIONAL INCOME, PUBLIC FINANCE, AND INTERNATIONAL LINKAGES.

PREREQUISITE: ECONOMICS 304K WITH A GRADE OF AT LEAST C-.

DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE 100 OR MORE STUDENTS.

This course is designed to introduce students to the vocabulary, concepts and models of analysis of macroeconomics. We will discuss the behavior of the aggregate economy, particularly the Gross Domestic Product; Consumption; Savings; Investment,Unemployment; Inflation; the role of the Monetary System and and Policy, the role of Taxes, Government Spending and Fiscal Policy; the National Debt and Government Budget Deficits and Surpluses; Exports, Imports and International Trade.

ECO S420K • Microeconomic Theory

82335-82350
• Clements, Matthew
Meets MTWTH 800am-1000am WEL 3.502

A SURVEY OF NEOCLASSICAL AND CONTEMPORARY THEORIES OF THE PRINCIPAL DETERMINANTS OF PRICES AND OF THE ROLE OF PRICES IN ECONOMIC ORGANIZATION. REQUIRED OF STUDENTS MAJORING IN ECONOMICS. STUDENTS MAY NOT ATTEMPT ECONOMICS 420K MORE THAN TWICE.

PREREQUISITE: ECONOMICS 304K AND 304L WITH A GRADE OF AT LEAST C- IN EACH, AND MATHEMATICS 408C AND 408D, OR MATHEMATICS 408K AND 408L, WITH A GRADE OF AT LEAST C- IN EACH.

The primary objective of the course is to study contemporary theories of the principal determinants of prices and the role of prices in economic organization. The course will emphasize the fundamental concepts of microeconomics and provide concrete examples of their application. The course will cover the demand and supply theories for competitive markets, some instances of market power, basics of the game theory, choice under uncertainty, and equilibrium in an exchange and production economy.

ECO S420K • Microeconomic Theory

82355
• Hickenbottom, Wayne R
Meets MTWTH 1000am-1200pm WEL 2.304

A SURVEY OF NEOCLASSICAL AND CONTEMPORARY THEORIES OF THE PRINCIPAL DETERMINANTS OF PRICES AND OF THE ROLE OF PRICES IN ECONOMIC ORGANIZATION. REQUIRED OF STUDENTS MAJORING IN ECONOMICS. STUDENTS MAY NOT ATTEMPT ECONOMICS 420K MORE THAN TWICE.

PREREQUISITE: ECONOMICS 304K AND 304L WITH A GRADE OF AT LEAST C- IN EACH, AND MATHEMATICS 408C AND 408D, OR MATHEMATICS 408K AND 408L, WITH A GRADE OF AT LEAST C- IN EACH.

The primary objective of the course is to study contemporary theories of the principal determinants of prices and the role of prices in economic organization. The course will emphasize the fundamental concepts of microeconomics and provide concrete examples of their application. The course will cover the demand and supply theories for competitive markets, some instances of market power, basics of the game theory, choice under uncertainty, and equilibrium in an exchange and production economy.

ECO S320L • Macroeconomic Theory

82360
• Trinque, Brian M
Meets MTWTHF 830am-1000am CLA 1.104

THEORY OF THE DETERMINATION OF NATIONAL INCOME, EMPLOYMENT, AND THE PRICE LEVEL, WITH POLICY IMPLICATIONS. REQUIRED OF STUDENTS MAJORING IN ECONOMICS.

PREREQUISITE: ECONOMICS 420K WITH A GRADE OF AT LEAST C-.

The purpose of this course is to further students' understanding of the central ideas of macroeconomics. We will study long-run economic growth and short-run economic fluctuations. Once we have a basic understanding of these phenomena, we will discuss the main macroeconomic tools of the government, fiscal policy and monetary policy. By the end of the semester, students should be able to critically read articles on current economic issues that appear in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Economist.

ECO S351M • Managerial Economics

82365
• Marble, Sanford C
Meets MTWTHF 800am-930am BRB 1.120

PREREQUISITE: ECO 420K, AND ECO 329 OR M 362K, WITH A GRADE OF AT LEAST C- IN EACH.

The course is about the strategies that firms can use to gain an advantage in markets that are very competitive (such as product/service differentiation, pricing strategies, corporate re-organization, mergers/acquisitions, etc.) Preston McAfee's book mixes theory about the kinds of competitive strategies that are available with examples of how they have been (or are being) used. The case studies provide real world discussions of corporate efforts to apply particular strategies. The case study write-ups give students a chance to focus on how the strategies work in actual practice. The course organization is based on the 'case study method' used in the Harvard Business School. It gives students practical experience in 1) reading and interpreting real world competitive analysis, 2) meeting recurring writing deadlines, 3)presenting material to an informed audience, 4) participating in group projects where their grade depends partly on the work of others, 5) thinking about what an economist can contribute to corporate strategizing. Students seem to enjoy the class, the participation in the presentations is enthusiastic. Also, I've received email from some students of last spring's class saying their use of ideas from the class had made a difference in their job interviews.

ECO S355 • Dev Probs/Pols In Latin Amer

DESCRIPTION OF THE LATIN AMERICAN ECONOMY; BUSINESS AND MARKET ORGANIZATION; PROBLEM OF GROWTH (INVOLVING CREDIT, PUBLIC FINANCE, TRADE, INVESTMENT ASPECTS).

PREREQUISITE: ECONOMICS 304K AND 304L WITH A GRADE OF AT LEAST C- IN EACH

Course description Latin America & the Caribbean (LAC), more than any other region, has been and continues to be a laboratory for economic theories, ideologies, and strategies. This has been a mixed blessing, at best, for residents of the region. However, those who seek to understand the determinants of economic performance and development find here an abundance of raw material. LAC economies are today part legacy and part dynamic reshaping of intellectual and political influences (some indigenous, others imported). In this course, current circumstances in the economies of Latin America & the Caribbean prompt us to ask how such things arise and where they might lead. The principal objective of the graded assignments in this course is to enable your engagement with the scholarly literature on LAC economies - that is, to learn how to learn from relevant experts. Secondary course objectives include deepening your understanding of the region's economies, exercising your talents in information retrieval and processing, and sharpening your writing skills. Your grade in this course will depend principally on your success in accessing, understanding, and communicating (in writing) scholarly debates or issues of relevance to the economies of LAC.